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My 2007 Prius catalytic converter got stolen. Need Help

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Luffy, Jul 14, 2020.

  1. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    If your going to scrap the car take out that cat for sure. Pretty easy just unbolt the 2 screws at the mani and cut it close to the resonator leaving the 2 cats and a nice long tail.
    Salvage the 2 bolts and 2 springs and the donut gasket leave the o2 sensor
    In that will get $1400 on ebay.
    I sold mine to a guy in Mass.
    But mine was a Florida car very clean no rust really so not sure what condition yours is in Im sure a rusted model may sell just maybe not top dollar.
    Good luck.
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    What a great idea! I didn't know that was possible. (In CA, it's supposed to be "illegal" to sell 2nd hand catalytic converters....)....

    Funny thing about that Toyoda dont make the cats for our cars anyway..nor alot of it made by second or third party mfgrs . oh well cali law is a money maker for the state .. serious pay out to be in cali whew ..
     
  3. Isaac Zachary

    Isaac Zachary Senior Member

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    In Colorado there's no emissions check whatsoever, unless you live in the Denver Metropolitan area. I know a lot of people who run a straight pipe on all their vehicles.
     
  4. lunacyworks

    lunacyworks Member

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    I am in SF bay, may be looking to swap a Cat with someone about the scrap thiers. Mine is on its way out and is OEM.
     
  5. Isaac Zachary

    Isaac Zachary Senior Member

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    Good idea to look here on Prius Chat. Mind you though that the last guy who sold a used working OEM Prius Cat here put it up for auction and got $1,300 for it (I'm not sure who paid for shipping). But the seller also liked using high zinc oil, which is known to foul catalytic converters. So who knows what kind of cat you'll get even at those prices.

    I'd also recommend just checking out all dealerships. Although the going rate is $2,100 for a new one, this dealer that's close to me sells them for only $460 more than what an old used zinc filled catalytic converter costs.

    Also, remember that catalytic converters usually don't just "wear out" There is likely another underlying reason why your cat died. With my 2006 Prius it died from burning oil due to clogged oil control rings (as a result of low tension stock rings, small oil return holes for the oil control rings and the previous owner waiting 10,000 miles to change the oil.)

    EDIT: If you're swaping yours out sell yours. You should be able to get at least $1,000 for it, maybe even a bit more. In California there are laws that can make it hard to sell one, but if you can prove it's yours it should be possible. Or sell it from the next state. Then with that money go buy a new OEM one. That would help cover a large portion of the cost, unlike those that have their catalytic converter stolen. Catalytic converter.jpg
     
    #25 Isaac Zachary, Jan 21, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2021
  6. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Zinc filled cat lol...
     
  7. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Im in NC i just used the 120 ebay cat ten min to bolt in looks great no codes . ive no emissions here i could have run a str8 pipe to muffler . i did remove second round pre muffler str8 pipe from that to muffler. 0420 still returns must need dwn stream o2 sensor .. gas mileage same about 46
     
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  8. lunacyworks

    lunacyworks Member

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    Well I am getting a spike on the O2 down to 0 every 10 minutes or so of driving, the rest of the time it's nice and smooth. Seems I am getting something thru the PVC line. Anyway just checking available of a CAT as I might not get the issue nailed down before it kills the Cat.
     
  9. lunacyworks

    lunacyworks Member

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    Well in California it has to be OEM cat. If they see an OEM on your car and it works it will pass. They don't ask any questions unless it's not OEM or it does not work.
     
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  10. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    going on 3 months with my amazon cat no codes.
     
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  11. Isaac Zachary

    Isaac Zachary Senior Member

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    I'm still interested in what the NOx levels are, codes or no codes.

    Are you burning any oil?
     
  12. lunacyworks

    lunacyworks Member

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    No not burning any oil. But will check my cat to make sure there isn't an obstruction. Compression is great, so starting to look at the A/F sensor or a damaged O2 or exhaust leak/crack.
     
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  13. Isaac Zachary

    Isaac Zachary Senior Member

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    I wonder if the spikes you see could be from a faulty connection or wire.
     
  14. blaisep

    blaisep Junior Member

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    @Isaac Zachary , ...I did not know about the high zinc oil !
    Where do I find out more about that?

    back in the early Prius days I donated some of my oil analysis results to the project, but I haven't followed it for a while.
    I just put a new OEM cat in my 2008, it has a recently rebuilt engine, but I want to protect it as much as possible since the first cat got clogged (I think) by the original engine.

    Is this the reason for the oil catch tanks people connect to their PCV valves?
    I haven't fully understood why they seem to have become popular.
     
  15. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy Active Member

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    Wow..??
    Unreal.. Well I live far from Portland. When I first moved in here, you drive even in Portland its very nice. Friendly people and drivers were courteous. Still is but there's a bit of change now. A lot of my students that lives in Yamhill county tells me they felt out of place when theyre pass the county...
     
    #35 Classic Car Guy, Feb 8, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2021
  16. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    The oil catch can is to help reduce the amount of oil (vapor) that gets pulled into the intake manifold and burned. Burning oil inside the engine fouls the spark plugs, makes to carbon deposits in the combustion chambers, is probably not good for the piston rings, contributes to EGR system clogging on Gen3, and produces deposits that will "poison" (coat and render ineffective) the catalytic converter and air-fuel / oxygen sensors.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  17. Adebrettski

    Adebrettski Junior Member

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    Which one did you get? How did it look?